Being in a car accident when you are pregnant can bring up a flood of emotions. It is normal to worry whether your baby is okay, even if you don’t feel any immediate pain or visible injuries.
After the shock of the accident fades, there are also legal and financial issues to think about.
You may need help covering medical bills, recovering lost income if you have to miss work, or dealing with insurance companies that don’t fully understand the risks of having a car accident while pregnant.
If you are in a car accident while pregnant, having an experienced Greenville car accident lawyer can make a big difference.
Immediate Steps After a Car Accident While Pregnant
The moments after a car accident are often chaotic, especially for an expectant mother. But there are a few key things you should try to do:
- Call 911 Immediately: Report the accident and request medical assistance. Let them know you’re pregnant so responders can prioritize your needs.
- Document Everything: If you are able, take pictures of the accident scene, your vehicle, and any visible injuries. Collect contact and insurance information from the other driver.
- Get Checked by a Medical Doctor: Even if you feel okay, internal trauma can affect both you and your baby. Always consult a doctor as soon as possible.
- Follow-Up With Your OB-GYN: Even after a hospital visit, schedule a follow-up with your OB-GYN. Complications like placental abruption or pre-term labor can develop hours or days later.
Concerns for a Pregnant Woman in a Car Accident
When a pregnant woman is involved in a car accident, there are extra layers of concern both for her health and that of her baby. One of the biggest medical concerns is placental abruption. This happens when the placenta separates from the uterus. This can be dangerous for both mother and baby, and might not show symptoms right away.
It is also common to experience increased stress and anxiety after the accident. Even if you weren’t physically injured, the emotional trauma can have an impact on your pregnancy. The stress and physical trauma of an accident might cause contractions or lead to pre-term labor.
These issues can arise hours or even days after the crash, so it’s essential to monitor any unusual symptoms and follow up with your OB-GYN.
Legal Steps to Take Following the Accident
These steps can help protect your rights and ensure that you are not left to bear the consequences of having a car accident while pregnant on your own:
1. Report the Crash to the Police and Your Insurance Company
First, make sure you report the crash to the police and your own insurance company. Even if the other driver admits fault, having an official police report and an insurance company record creates a clear paper trail. This helps protect you if disagreements arise later about what happened.
2. Gather and Preserve Evidence From the Accident
Next, gather and preserve any evidence you can. Take photos of the vehicles, the street, skid marks, and traffic signs, or anything else that shows how the collision occurred. Hold on to medical records, bills, and notes from every doctor visit, including prenatal check-ups and any follow-up appointments. Those documents will show exactly how the accident affected both you and your baby.
3. Avoid Giving a Statement
Avoid giving recorded statements or signing anything from the other driver’s insurance company without talking to an attorney first. Insurers are focused on minimizing payouts, and even well-meaning questions can lead to misstatements that hurt your claim. It’s perfectly okay to tell an insurance company, “I’ll get back to you after I’ve spoken with my lawyer.”
4. Contact an Experienced Lawyer
Contact a lawyer who understands pregnancy-related car accident cases. An experienced attorney will know what to look for, how to value your case, and how to fight for what you’re owed.
Damages You May Be Entitled to After a Car Accident While Pregnant
Here are some of the damages you may be able to recover if you are in a car wreck while pregnant:
- Medical Expenses: You are entitled by law to reimbursement of your reasonable and necessary medical expenses, including emergency care right after the accident, follow-up visits, tests, and any additional prenatal care you need as a result of the crash.
- Lost Wages: You are also entitled by law to reimbursement of any lost wages you incur if you have to miss work for doctor’s appointments, recovery time, or bed rest that you require as a result of the crash.
- Future Medical Costs: Sometimes, the full financial impact of a pregnancy-related car accident is not known right away. If you or your baby need ongoing care before or after birth, those future medical needs can be factored into your compensation.
- Mental Anguish:You are entitled by law to compensation for your fear for your baby’s safety and the emotional trauma that follows.
- Pain and Suffering: You are also entitled by law to compensation for your discomfort from your physical injuries.
- Loss of Enjoyment of Life: You are also entitled by law to compensation for any loss of enjoyment of life. Examples of this type of loss would include situations where the accident disrupted your ability to enjoy your pregnancy the way you should have. If you missed out on milestones, couldn’t prepare the nursery, or had to give up essential activities, this emotional loss could be part of your claim.
- Wrongful Death or Pregnancy Loss: In the most heartbreaking situations where the accident causes a miscarriage or stillbirth, you may be entitled to damages for the loss of your unborn child.
How a Greenville Car Accident Lawyer Can Help
Your attorney will gather all the facts of your case. If necessary and appropriate, your attorney may talk to witnesses, get copies of police reports, and review medical records to understand both your injuries and any risks to your pregnancy. With that information in hand, your attorney can build a clear picture of what happened and who is responsible.
Next, your lawyer will work with medical specialists, like obstetricians and maternal-fetal medicine experts. These experts translate complex medical issues into language that judges and juries can understand, helping you secure full compensation for your treatment and emotional distress.
Finally, your lawyer will handle communication with insurance companies. Insurance adjusters often try to minimize payouts, especially if they know you need quick treatment or have extra medical bills because you’re pregnant. Your attorney will also protect you from lowball offers, pushing back on unfair denials, and making sure you’re not pressured into accepting less than you deserve.
Contact Our Car Accident Lawyers in Greenville
If you are pregnant and were in a car accident and it wasn’t your fault, you may be entitled to compensation. A car accident while pregnant claim is different from a typical car accident case because of the added risks and potential impact on your pregnancy.
At David R. Price, Jr., P.A., we understand the unique challenges you’re facing, and we’re here to help you every step of the way. If you’ve been involved in a car accident while pregnant, contact our experienced Greenville car accident lawyers at 864-271-2636 for a free consultation.